After a night of patrolling, a Barton County Sheriff's Office deputy returned to headquarters Sunday morning and discovered the patrol car had been sideswiped somewhere in the county. The vehicle, a 2014 Dodge Charger, had damage and paint transfer from another vehicle on the passenger-side doors and rear quarter panel.

Two male inmates in separate pods at the Barton County Jail attempted to hang themselves using sheets this past weekend, Undersheriff Bruce Green confirmed Tuesday. In each instance, another inmate noticed what was happening and alerted a detention officer before serious injury occurred.

An accident was reported at 11:33 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, on West K-4 near NW 70 Ave. According to the Barton County Sheriff's Office, a 1993 Dodge Dakota driven by Larry C. Thiel Jr., 34, La Crosse, rear-ended a manure spreader driven by Robert L. Crites, 50, of Ellinwood, as Crites attempted to make a left turn into a private drive. Both drivers and a passenger in the Dodge, 24-year-old David A. Deistchle of Otis, were wearing seat belts. This was initially reported as an injury accident and the drivers were checked by Hoisington ambulance. They were ...